Video: Police Forces Shooting at Protesters

I promise this will be the last of these videos.

Update: A lot of people are telling me that some of the bullets used in these videos are rubber, meaning they would hurt but not injure or kill the person. Whether or not that is the case clearly cannot be determined.

Ballot Stuffing Caught on Camera

This video has been making its way across the internet for the past couple of days. Watch it carefully.

Thousands Protest Election Results

It seems tens of thousands of people unhappy with the results of the election have decided to take to the streets in protest. It appears that this minority isn't happy with the fact that Serge Sarkisian received the majority of the votes in a landslide election or that Russia and the OSCE have approved of the election and its results. Nope, they demand new elections!

Election officials said a final count showed Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian with nearly 53 percent of the vote — enough to win outright and avoid a runoff. His main opponent, Levon Ter-Petrosian, had 21.5 percent.

Monitors for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said there were concerns about the vote count, but issued a generally positive assessment of the election. And Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country enjoys close ties with Armenia, congratulated Sarkisian on his victory.

"I would like to assure you that no one will be able to stop us from making sure that the rule of law is observed," Ter-Petrosian told cheering supporters.

Enough. Stop wasting your time. Serge had definite advantages going in, the election was relatively fair, and Levon lost. Advice to future candidates: don't make a surprise entry and expect the vast majority to take your side instantly.

You can almost hear the kid in the picture saying, "Mom, why are we out here wasting our time in the cold? I thought Mr. Sarkisian had won?"

Photo by Arthur Papyan

Serge Sarkisian is the President of Armenia!

Yes, my fellow Armenians, these results are not final, but you'd have to be insane to think that the final results would be significantly different so as to throw off the race. You'd also have to be instane to think that Levon wasn't drawing up the plans for a rally even before a single vote had been cast. The BBC had this to say:

Mr Sarkisian had gained 52.7% of the vote, with his nearest rival Levon Ter-Petrosian lagging on 21.5%. By early Wednesday, 97.5% of votes had been counted, according to official results given on Armenian public TV. Turnout was estimated at nearly 70% of 2.3m eligible voters.

But Mr Ter-Petrosian alleges widespread vote-rigging, and has called a rally in the capital, Yerevan. But Mr Ter-Petrosian - a former president - surprised onlookers with a lively and outspoken campaign, and now insists he is the real winner.

How do you say "bullshit" in Armenian?

As I said previously, there wouldn't be a drastic difference for the people of Armenia one way or the other. On the plus side, though, Armenia will not compromise on Karabakh and on the Genocide issue with Turkey. Oh, and a certain other person will not be returning.

Edit: It seems a few of you who are either still shook up or otherwise incapable of comprehending sarcasm believe that I support Sarkisian. That's simply not true: I only wanted Levon to lose. It seems the Armenian people wanted the very same thing.

Armenia "Votes" Today

Ah yes, today is the day where corruption, blind nationalism, and fraud all come together in the form of Armenia's Presidential Election! Who will win? Who will lose? One thing's for certain, this is not going to be a demonstration of democracy and whoever is elected will first and foremost get himself rich, then those near him, and whatever is left will be spread among the lower individuals in power.

Edit: It seems that BBC News went around and asked a dozen Armenians the things that they want with the new president. Recurring themes? Job creation and end to corruption.

Video: Levon Ter Petrosyan Mocks Robert Kocharian

In this undated video, Levon Ter Petrosyan suggest that Robert Kocharyan is not Armenian, an obvious jab at Kocharyan's ancestry. Fast forward a few years and Kocharyan is the one in power while Ter Petrosyan is attempting to wrangle it away from him. That's politics for you!

Edit: I stand corrected. I did not read the Armenian caption and completely misconstrued the message. Thank you all for pointing it out!

Levon Ter Petrosyan to Run for President

This is for the 12 people amongst you who haven't yet heard this bit of rather interesting news.

Levon Ter Petrosyan, the former and first president of the Republic of Armenia announced his candidacy to run for becoming the 3rd president of the Republic of Armenia.

This announcement was highly anticipated, but experts doubted that Ter Petrosyan will not run for presidency unless he knows that he can win.

However, his support in Armenia is not widespread because people blame Ter Petrosyan for weak management of the government, the start of wide-spread corruption and for all the misdeeds of today's social life.

I'm one of those people. Down with Petrosyan!

Source: Huliq

Video: A Parody of Elections in Armenia

This is just brilliant! You have to watch it, especially the end!

Source: Ditord

Gagik "Dodi Gago" Tsarukian's New Look

Click to enlarge.

The first picture was taken quite a while ago. The second picture was taken today during a campaign rally. Compare and contrast the following: haircut, smile, clothing, jewelry, overall impression. Amazing, huh?

And I thought this sort of a transformation only happens in the United States? How wrong I was!

First photo from PhotoLur via Google. Second photo by Onnik Krikorian

Robert Kocharyan Discusses Higher Education Reforms

From the source:

Armenia's President Robert Kocharyan and the rectors of the country's higher schools discussed the current state and the further steps in higher education reforms in Armenia.

The President took interest in introduction of the new teaching methods and the availability of modern special literature. A comprehensive approach is required in providing the students with new basic manuals in their respective fields, as the bare structural changes will not bring about a radical improvement in education. Kocharyan said that he expects the rectors to make their contribution to the reform on time in a consolidated, purposeful and correct manner.

Sincere discussion of an important issue or just another political stunt? You be the judge.

Source: Arka